Featured TN News Stories:
$10 million child sex abuse suit names Catholic diocese in U.S.
Associated Press
07 Sep 2006 12:00 am
A new $10 million sex abuse lawsuit was filed Thursday against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville, claiming it failed to reveal allegations that a former priest currently serving a sentence for rape and molestation had abused other minors.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit, who is identified only as 29-year-old "John Doe", alleges former Nashville priest Ed McKeown began sexually abusing him at age 11 in 1988, a year before McKeown was forced out of the priesthood.
"At the time that John was abused by Father McKeown, John and/or his family were unaware that the diocese had previously received other allegations that Father McKeown sexually abused minors," according to the lawsuit.
Diocese spokesman Rick Musacchio said early Thursday that the diocese had not yet been served with the lawsuit. "It would be inappropriate to comment at this time," he said.
Last year, a settlement was reached in another lawsuit against the diocese brought by two 25-year-old men who claimed they had been molested by McKeown when they were children.
Both men, who said they were abused by McKeown between 1995 and 1999, argued that the diocese knew McKeown was a sexual predator and did not warn the community about the possible danger when he left the priesthood.
Because the diocese allegedly withheld that information, Miami attorney Jeff Herman said victims like his client and others are lawfully allowed to file cases years later on what's called "fraudulent concealment theories."
"The diocese knew that this priest was abusing children, covered it up and prevented these victims from knowing their legal rights," Herman said.
Rape Classes Teach Women Self Defense
Matt Johnson
07 Sep 2006 12:00 am
Every two minutes someone is raped in the United States. For women in the Tennessee Valley, that's a scary statistic.
Chattanooga Police are kicking off a new program called RAD, or Rape Awareness Defense, it's effort to increase rape awareness and give women the smarts to fend off predators.
Chattanooga Police captain J.L. Francis teaches a new series of classes on rape awareness and defense. "It's very important for women to realize that they can take away the opportunity by being more aware and also by being prepared," he said.
Thursday was just the first in a series of four rape awareness and defense classes. Chattanooga Police work with the city parks and rec department to put on the classes. The series costs twenty dollars.
Class Dates: Tuesday, September 12 Thursday, September 14
Tuesday, September 19
Classes go from 6-9 PM Eastern Time at the South Chattanooga Recreation Center.
For more info, call Tracy Wamp at (423)425-3550
Butterflies will soar for those who can't yet fly
WENDY ISOM
11 Aug 2006 12:00 am
One day, they all strive to spread their wings and fly.
That statement is as true for butterflies as it is for recovering victims of domestic abuse and violent sexual crimes, said Margaret Cole, executive director of the Wo/Men's Resource and Rape Assistance Program in Jackson.
"The butterfly symbolizes rebirth, regeneration and renewal of life," Cole said. "We help them (victims) build their self-esteem back."
And the annual WRAP Butterfly Release and fund-raiser event in Jackson serves as a reminder of that goal, she said. WRAP started the butterfly release in 2003.
Convicted Clinton rapist given life without parole
Associated Press
08 Aug 2006 12:00 am
An East Tennessee man who rejected a plea deal that would have brought him six years in a rape case now faces life without parole.
A jury in Clinton found Ralph Byrd Cooper, Jr. guilty in June of the rape of a 19-year-old woman. The judge said Monday he had no choice but to invoke the state "three strikes law."
That was because of Cooper's conviction a decade ago on three sodomy convictions involving an eight-year-old girl.
Panel discusses new felons' voting rights law
Associated Press
07 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A panel discussion on restoring the voting rights of felons has brought out that a new law to make that easier may discriminate against poor people.
Some members of the panel in Knoxville said Monday a provision that people who were convicted of felonies must be current on child support payments is harder on poor inmates.
Critics of the former restoration system said the process was cumbersome because it depended on the circumstances of each individual and the year the crime was committed.
The panel discussion was sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union, Tennessee's Right to Vote Campaign and the Race Relations Center of East Tennessee. It's one of eight town hall meetings scheduled across the state to explain the new law.
Hearing for man convicted of rape ends
Marcia Moore
05 Aug 2006 12:00 am
The Snyder County Court hearing for a North Carolina man convicted in 2004 of raping a Shamokin Dam girl ended Friday after his trial attorney took the stand.
William Gary Sullivan, 48, is serving a 16- to 60-year prison term after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl while visiting the family's Shamokin Dam home on three occasions between January 1999 and October 2000.
At trial, witnesses testified that one of the alleged assaults occurred on the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in 1999.
Following his conviction, Mr. Sullivan produced evidence that showed he, along with his wife and young son, were at a theme park in Tennessee that weekend.
Child rape suspect, Duffer, to be tried Jan. 8
SHEILA BURKE
02 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A Hermitage man who jumped bail while awaiting trial on molestation charges will be tried on Jan. 8, a Davidson County Criminal Court Judge decided Wednesday.
Jeremy Duffer, 35, skipped bond in February when he cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet just before he was to be tried on child rape. He remained a fugitive for five months.
He was working at a traveling carnival in East Tennessee last month when he was arrested and taken into custody. The arrest came after carnival employees told a Rockwood, Tenn., police officer that he was acting strange.
Former Sheriff’s officer charged with child rape
Nicole Young
02 Aug 2006 12:00 am
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested a former Robertson County Sheriff’s deputy on 61 counts of rape of a child and 60 counts of aggravated sexual battery last week.
The crimes reportedly occurred in Robertson County during a span of about 10 years.
Youth Camp Worker Allows Statutory Rape
13 Jul 2006 6:18 pm
There’s trouble at a camp that holds some of Tennessee's most troubled teenagers. Lebanon Police are looking for a former camp worker who is charged with taking two young men to a Wilson County camp so they could have sex with underage girls.
Neighbors said they’ve had no problems with the camp, but Lebanon Police have already arrested Christopher Carver, 20, and charged him with statutory rape. Now they are still looking for another man and a female camp worker.
“For this to happen and be allowed to happen by somebody who we feel is their caretaker. She was the only worker there when this happened. It is very disturbing to us,” said Lebanon police chief, Scott Bowen.
Police said Amy Morrison, 40, worked at the camp and actually drove two men to the camp and allowed them to have sex with underage girls.
“If she hadn’t went and picked them up, they wouldn’t have been there to begin with,” said Bowen.
Man Arrested in Death of Clemson Student
JACOB JORDAN
07 Jun 2006 2:56 am
A registered sex offender wanted in the death of a Clemson University student who was strangled with her bikini top was captured.
Jerry Buck Inman, who was wanted on arrest warrants for murder, rape and kidnapping, was taken into custody without resistance during a traffic stop about a mile from his parents' home in Dandridge, Tenn., Sheriff David Davenport said.
The 35-year-old construction worker was registered as a sex offender in Florida in September after he was released from prison for kidnapping and sexual battery. He also was registered in North Carolina. His last address is listed as Dandridge, Tenn.
McDonald's Manager Molests Kids, Gets Promoted
02 May 2006 10:20 pm
McDonald's says keeping children safe is a top priority. But our exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation found one case that critics say speaks volumes about how much the company is really doing to protect kids.
"It wasn't the best experience. In fact, it was the worst experience."
The boys say, at their first job, they were molested.
"I wanted to have a first job where I could look back on it and actually be able to tell people what my first job was like," Adam says. "Now I just can't do that."
Abbie Sutherlin's son, Mark, was also 15 -- and working at the same McDonald's in Hillsborough, New Jersey -- when one day he broke the news.
"He told us that he had been molested by his boss," Sutherlin recalls.
"You think your child is safe. You think he's OK. And then you find out, boy were you wrong."
Their boss was 20-year-old assistant manger Joshua Diaz.
Even though McDonald's corporate fired Diaz, they then turned around and accepted him here into their management training program at the corporate headquarters.
They say they did that because that's who the local franchisee wanted.
"They've taken the position that they don't have any say over who their franchisees hire," Courtney explains.
It's the same position they've adopted about all the child molesters and other sex offenders that our investigation discovered working at other McDonald's franchises.
Advocate Calls for Boycott, Sex Offender Says McDonald's Knew
02 May 2006 6:15 pm
A nationwide boycott of McDonalds -- that's what a child safety expert wants after a NewsChannel 5 investigation. He wants it to force the company to do background checks to keep molesters away from kids who eat and work there.
Ex-Teacher Rearrested in Teen Sex Case
A former elementary school teacher who spent six months in jail for having sex with a 13-year-old student was arrested again, this time for violating probation by apparently communicating with the victim.
Search Continues For Alleged Child Molester
The hunt is on for a man awaiting trial for molesting a 12-year old boy. Jeremy Duffer, 35, was arrested for child rape in 2004 but did not show up for a court appearance Friday morning.
Accused Child Rapist at Large
Police officers throughout Nashville are on the lookout for accused child rapist Jeremy Wayne Duffer, who has violated the electronic monitoring provisions of his bond and may have fled the area.
Anyone seeing Duffer or knowing his whereabouts is urged to contact the police department’s Sex Crimes Unit at 862-7540 or Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.
Why sex offenders are allowed to register hotels as homes
You may think to check online for sex offenders where you live, but what about at your next vacation location?
6 News uncovers sex offender registry details that could make you think twice about your next getaway.
